Grants Today: Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is changing lives and strengthening communities. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested millions of dollars in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. The Foundation’s work is driven by four fundamental beliefs in Community, Investment, Equity, and Partnership. Helios invests in programs and initiatives across the full education continuum – from early grade success through postsecondary education.

Since 2006, Helios has supported the education-related work of Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) in a variety of ways. This includes their support of Thriving Together, for which Helios has provided $500,000 over the past four years. Thriving Together is a cross-sector partnership designed to improve conditions from cradle to career for children and youth living within the boundaries of Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD) and its 13 feeder districts.

Some of the many Thriving Together projects that Helios funding has helped nurture include: coordinating collaborative efforts among K-8 school districts and PUHSD to ensure students successfully transition from middle school to high school, encouraging students to apply to college through a coordinated college application campaign, and supporting families in the financial aid process to ensure a college education is attainable for all.

“Thriving Together is a unique collaboration in our community that is leveraging community partnerships in support of student success,” said Vince Yanez, Senior Vice President, Arizona Community Engagement. “We are excited about this work and believe it will lead to better outcomes for students in our community.”

VSUW greatly appreciates the ongoing support Helios has given to important initiatives, like Thriving Together, to help make the future brighter for Arizona’s youth!